Beyond intravascular imaging: quantitative ultrasonic tissue characterization of vascular pathology

The ultimate goal of this work is to relate intravascular ultrasound imaging to quantitative ultrasonic tissue characterization. Vascular disease is responsible for the majority of deaths in the United States from coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, stroke, and arterial dissection or rupture. The ultimate biological behavior of atherosclerotic lesions depends not only on their extent of luminal narrowing but also on their biophysical composition and material. Properties. Ultrasonic tissue characterization methods may be useful for quantitative delineation of the biophysical composition and organization of normal and pathological vascular tissue. Expansion of the diagnostic capabilities of intravascular imaging to enable quantitative tissue characterization will facilitate its widespread clinical application